Richard II Act v. sc 3.

LECTURE III. 81

makes in learning, or his advance in any way, is his going forth, or forward, by degrees; which constitutes a " progression;" and he is himself said to be " progressive." On the other hand, " regress" is a going back; and " retrogade" is of similar import. To "transgress" is to go over, or beyond bounds. A " transgressor" is one who oversteps the limits prescribed by law, and such an act of disobedience is a " transgression." An " undergraduate" is the name given to a student in a university who is still below his degree, but to which he is " gradually" proceeding.

Habeo, to have or hold, with its participle habitus, had, is a fruitful source from whence English words are derived. From the participle, we have " habit," applied to the mode or manner of having or keeping; and so it came to signify not only the usual style or " habit" of dress, but also the articles of clothing, formerly called " habiliments." Our " habitation" is the place of our abode, the house that we " inhabit," that is, where we have our being, where we " habitually" or customarily reside. To " cohabit" is live toge­ther with. To " exhibit" is to hold forth what one has; and an " exhibition" is the act of setting forth or out things; also applied to the building in which " exhibitors" shew forth their goods. The term "exhibition"* used to be applied to any

* " What maintenance he from his friends receives,

Like exhibition thou shalt have from me."— Shakspeare.

82 LECTURE III.

pension or salary; but is now restricted to such as are granted to scholars in colleges or universi­ties. To " inhibit" is to hold in; and an "inhi­bition" is restraint upon; similar to a " prohibi­tion," a command to leave off; and to " prohibit," to forbid, to hold forth or off. With the prefix un as a negative, we have " uninhabited," that is not " inhabited," and " uninhabitable," where we cannot live, or have our existence.

From hÆreo, to stick to, and hÆsus, adhered, we have the English word to " adhere," that is, to stick close to. The verb, as well as the noun derived from it, is applied metaphorically to signify one's " adherence" to any person, party, or opinion. " Coherence" is literally a sticking together, and an " incoherent" harrangue is a rambling speech in which the ideas are not well connected together. " Cohesive" and " cohesion" are of similar signifi­cation with " coherence;" and that which exists in any thing, so as to be inseparable from it, is " inherent" or sticking into it

ImpĚro, to command, gives us " imperative," the name given to the mood of verbs which expresses a command. " Emperor" and " empire" are spelt with e, but " imperial" and " imperialist," relating to such a ruler or his realm, have i, as in the Latin. " Imperious" is used to signify haughty and assuming command over others.

Jacio, to throw, and jectus, thrown, supply us with several English words. Hence we have

LECTURE III. 83

" abject" cast from or down; and used to signify base and servile, as applied by Shakspeare.* The "adjective" in grammar is so called because cast to or added to the noun. Hence also " conjecture," a casting together of our thoughts; " dejected," cast down; and "eject" to cast out. An "ejectment" is a casting out from one's house or lands; " ejec­tion" is a casting out, and an " ejector" is one who casts out. To "inject" is to cast into, and an " interjection" is so called as being cast in between the parts of a sentence. To " object" is to cast in the way of, or against; and an " objector" the person who makes the " objection." An " object" is that which is cast in our way, or before our eyes. Any thing is " objectionable" or " unobjec­tionable," as it may be liable to objection or other­wise. " Objective" means relating to the " object," and in grammar the case so called is that which follows a preposition or a transitive verb, whose action passes over to the " object." To " project" is to cast forth or forward; and " projectiles" are the bodies so shot out. A " project" is any thing set forth as the object of attainment; and a "pro­jector" is one who initiates a design which he is said to have cast in his mind. To " reject" is to cast back, and thus to refuse; and "rejection" is the act of rejecting. The verb to " subject," as well as the noun " subjection," implies being cast

* " Oh I could hew up rocks, and fight with flints,

I am so angry at these abject terms."— Henry VI Part 2.

LECTURE III.

under; and a " subject" is a person under the dominion of another. The " subject" of a dis­course or lecture means that which is brought under review, or submitted to consideration. In logic, the " subject" of a proposition is that concerning which any thing is affirmed or denied. From jungo to join, junctus, joined, we have many words; as " join," "joiner," and "joint" or " joining;" also " adjoin," to join to; " con­join," to join with; " disjoin," to separate from. A " joining" of two things, as of roads, forms a " junction," a word well known to railway travel­lers, terms of Latin origin being usually employed in connection with this comparatively modern mode of conveyance.* A " junto" is a term applied to a set of men " joined" in some secret design. " Adjunct," "conjunct," and " disjunct," have reference, respectively, to a joining to, or together, and a separation. A " conjuncture" implies a meeting together of different events; and is used emphatically to describe such a meeting of impor­tant circumstances. To " enjoin" is to join upon one, that is, to put upon; and is applied to the laying on of commands or admonitions, and that which is so laid on is an " injunction." To " rejoin" is to unite again; a " rejoinder" is an answer to an answer, " joining" issue with one's opponent again; and that which is joined or added under, is said to be " subjoined." In

* See English Roots, Third Edition, page 177.

LECTURE III.

grammar, we have " conjunctive," " disjunctive," and "subjunctive," which terms I explained, with their derivations, in my first Lecture.

From juro, to swear, we have " juror," and "jury," as being sworn to give a true verdict; also " adjure," and " conjure," literally to swear to, and together. The former word is used in the sense of charging with the solemnity of an oath administered to the other; and the latter with a somewhat similar signification, but implying en­treaty or supplication rather than command. A "conjuror" is so called, from such persons having, in the dark ages, pretended to perform their devices by prayers and incantations. Formerly conspirators were called " conjurators" as being sworn together in a plot. Those persons who, upon the Revolution in the 17th century, would not swear allegiance to the new dynasty, were called " non-jurors." To " perjure," or to be guilty of " perjury," is to forswear oneself, to swear falsely—to break through an oath.

The Latin verb lego, signifying to gather or select, and also to read —(with lectus, gathered or read) forms the root of several English words, in both senses. A " legend" is that which may be read; a word not only applied to what are known as " legendary" tales, but also to the in­scription to be read on medals or coins. "Legi­ble" writing is such as may be easily read; and its opposite is " illegible," formed by the prefix in

LECTURE III

as a negative changed to il. A "legion" of soldiers, amongst the ancient Romans, meant a number of selected men; and the word came to be applied to any large number.* A " lecture" means a reading, and the " lecturer" is the per­son who reads it. A " lesson" is of the same derivation. To " collect" is to gather together; and thus a " collection" is made of contributions, or of any thing the " collector" desires. Prayers called " collects" are such as were collected together or selected. " Collective" means gathered into one mass. An " election" is a gathering or choosing out from; and an "elector" is one who chooses from amongst the candidates, by exercis­ing his " electoral" rights. Those German princes who had a vote to " elect" an emperor were called " Electors." That which was chosen with care, and therefore opposed to what was slovenly or coarse, was called " elegant," that is, chosen out; " eligible" describes that which is worthy of choice, and " ineligible" that which is not so deserving. " Predilection" means choosing before­hand; and is used to signify a previously formed good opinion, as prejudice, meaning to judge beforehand, implies a bad opinion so formed. The proper signification of a " prelection" is a reading before; and was originally applied to the reading of the master prior to that of the student, and

" My name is Legion; for we are many."— Mark v. 9.

LECTURE III. 87

preparatory to it; or before, that is, in the pre­sence and hearing of the pupils. It has come to be applied to a lecture generally. To " recollect" is to choose or collect again; and " recollection'' is a calling back to the mind things that had been forgotten; if this be done without an effort, it is called remembrance.* To " re-elect" is to elect again; and to " select" is to choose out of and in preference to others. From the compounds of the Latin verb, lego, viz. diligo, intelligo, and negligo, we have " diligence," or careful choos­ing out; " intelligence," or choosing between, and by the exercise of the " intellect" perceiving which is best; and "negligence," or not choosing at all, implying a " neglect" of the duty of rational beings.

From levo, to raise up, levĀtus, lifted up, we have " leaven," applied to bread made with barm, also called yeast, to make it rise. The eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea is called the " Levant," being the French for rising, derived by them from the Latin, indicating the part where the sun appears to rise. A " levee" meant a reception at the time of the person holding it first rising from bed; and the word is continued to signify a reception, although not now held in a

* "The same idea, when it again recurs without the operation of the object on the external sensory, is remembrance. If it be sought after by the mind, and with pain and endeavour found, and brought again in view, 'tis recollection" — Locke.

LECTURE III.

bed-room. A " levy" of soldiers, or of taxes, is the raising of them. This term also comes to us through the French. One of the mechanical powers is called a " lever," a word of similar deri­vation, to describe that which raises weights. To " elevate" is to raise out of a low estate, and is also applied, metaphorically, to the mind or the spirits. To " relieve" means to raise up again, and hence to assist, and so to diminish pain or labour; it is also used in the sense of raising another from a duty or task by taking it upon oneself; thus soldiers are said to " relieve" guard. " Relief" is assistance rendered; and in the fine arts the word is used to designate the rising or standing out part, whether it be real, as in statuary, or in appearance only, as in painting.

From liceo, to be lawful, we have a few words, as to " license," to give a right, to make it lawful. A " licentiate" is one licensed to preach, teach, or practice. " Illicit" is unlawful; and " licentious" means dissolute, as implying freedom from restraint, uncontrolled by any law, giving the passions full " license."

Ligo, to bind, gives us " league," in which parties are bound together to fulfil prescribed conditions, or to carry out certain objects. The subjects of the realm, bound to obedience to the sovereign are the Queen's " lieges," as implied by the word " allegiance" being bound to (al for ad); and as such they are " liable," that is, bound to

LECTURE III. 89

submission;* or in case of default thereof they incur a " liability" to suffer the consequences. A " ligament" or a " ligature" is a band or bond. When a person is bound to another, either by law or gratitude, he is under legal or moral " obligation" to such a person; and when by any service or kindness we bind another to us, we are said to " oblige" the person, or by the contrary con­duct, to " disoblige," that is, to release him from all moral " obligation" to us. The word " religion" is derived from the same root, as implying at once the highest of all " obligations," and as binding us to it by the strongest ties. The meaning con­veyed by the word, moreover, is the reciprocal bond or " obligation" of man to man, and also the " obligation" or duty of the creature to the great Creator.

From linquo to leave, lectus left, we have " delinquency," a leaving off, and departing from the right way; which is the act of a " delinquent," who leaves undone that which ought to be done, such being the proper meaning of the word. A " dereliction" of duty is of similar import, mean­ing a forsaking of it; and a cast-away, or deserted ship is called a " derelict." To " relinquish " is to depart from, and so means to resign or give up what one had enjoyed or claimed — letting it depart from one's possession. A widow is called

* " Reason to my love is liable." — Shakspeare: Julius Cæsar.

90 LECTURE III.

a " relict," as being left or bereaved of her hus­band. " Relics" mean the remains of any person or thing.

Loquor, to speak, and its participle locŪtus, spoken, supply the root of several words; some of which being compounded with nouns and

adjectives will be reserved for a future lecture.

Of those not so formed we have " loquacity"

and " loquacious," referring to a propensity to

talk, having the gift of the gab; also " elo­quent" and "eloquence," applied in a better

sense to speaking out; the act of teaching or

learning which is called " elocution." A "col-

loquy" means a talking with another, conversation;

and a " colloquial" style is one resembling talking

or familiar conversation. Of similar meaning is

" interlocution," adialogue or conversation between
two persons. In law an " interlocutory" decree
is one that is intermediate, not finally determined.
" Obloquy" signifies a speaking against another,
gainsaying; and is applied to detraction and
reproach.

We have a small class of words from luceo, to shine. A "lucid" argument is one that is clear; to " elucidate" a subject is to make it appear clearly out; and a " pellucid " stream is one that shines and sparkles, the prefix per being changed to pel, and signifying shining through —thoroughly clear.

Ludo, to play, to deceive, and lusus played,

LECTURE III. 91

supply some words. Of these are " allude" and "allusive;" having " allusion" properly to spor­tive or playful hints, and thence applied generally in the sense of referring to (ad being changed to al). To " collude" means to play together; and hence " collusion" and " collusive" imply a uniting for the purpose of fraud or deception (a playing into each other's hands); to be dis­tinguished from collision, the act of two bodies striking together. To " delude" is to deceive by false appearances. The word means literally to cease playing; and it is thought to have had reference to the mock battles of the Roman gladiators, who, when they ceased from these to engage in real combat, were said to cease from play; and the word " delude" came to be applied to the mock battle itself, when they counterfeited what was earnest. To " elude" is to evade or escape from; and " elusive" conduct is of a simi­lar character with that which is " delusive," but also includes escaping, either physically or men­tally, from one's grasp. An " illusion" is a coun­terfeit show or representation; and to " illude" signifies to play upon, — il being put for in as a prefix. A "prelude" is that which is played before and as introductory to something else; and an " interlude" is that which is played at intervals, between the parts. " Ludicrous" means playful, or exciting ridicule. Mando, to command, or to give in charge of,

LECTURE III.

supplies words of obvious meaning, as a "mandate," " command," " commander," and " command­ment;" also a " countermand," (coming through the French,) meaning a command against or op­posed to one before given, and recalling the first. To " demand" is to ask from, peremptorily; and to " remand" is to give back in charge. To " commend" is to give in charge of another; and thus it comes to mean to entrust or to declare trustworthy, and as such worthy of approbation; and when a man's conduct evinces that he is deserving of such confidence, it is " commend­able;" and one need feel no hesitation in " re­commending" him to others; a " recommendation" signifying a praising again to another.

These latter words have come to us through the French. I had intended to have reserved all words so derived for a separate Lecture; but they are so mixed up with those derived directly from the Latin, which, for the most part, consti­tutes the foundation of the French language, that I have judged it better not to make such a divi­sion; but to notice the circumstance of their mediate derivation, as the several words occur in regular order.

LECTURE IV.

WORDS FORMED FROM LATIN VERBS.

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